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Leg pain

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This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
AJLang

AJLang

Well-Known Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1
i would really welcome any suggestions about what might be causing my leg pain. It usually starts in the early hours of the morning and fluctuates, causing pain mainly from half way down my thighs to my ankles in both legs. There is no numbness , tingling or shooting pain. The GP didn’t have a clue and said neuropathy but it doesn’t seem to fit with what I’ve read about neuropathy. All of the blood tests I’ve had done were fine apart from C-reactive protein which was 17 and ESR which was 21. The pain is beginning to get to me. Yesterday was a rare relatively pain free day and that felt good but then it kicked off again in the early hours of the morning. I’m already on cocodamol, ibuprofen and low dose amitriptylene for other things.The CRP and ESR are to be repeated in a week. I currently can’t get a GP appointment until February 15th.
 
With that distribution of pain, sounds a bit like a nerve root problem in the back at L5. Have you got a stiff back, or can you touch your toes?

I wouldn’t worry overmuch about the slightly raised ESR and CRP, they are just unreliable indicators of an inflammatory process, or injury.
 
Thanks Mike. I haven't been able to touch my toes in a long while 🙂 Back hasn't changed in recent times - I was diagnosed with facet joint arthropy this time last year but that hasn't changed i.e. only stiffness when I walk and this leg pain isn't affected by walking. How would I be able to check if it is a root problem in L5 and is there anything I can do about it? I have been to the pain clinic previously about my back because of the facet joint but the consultant seemed to suggest that they weren't too keen on doing them because of the potential risks.
 
You can’t check whether that is the cause, only an X-ray or MRI scan can do that. Facet joint arthropathy on its own wouldn’t produce such symptoms, and isn’t treatable anyway. It’s a result of walking upright - quadrupeds don’t get it.

What is worth trying (short of hanging upside down) is if you can sleep on your back, put a shallow cushion under the small of your back, to see if that eases the symptoms. If it does, tell the doc and appropriate investigations should result.
 
Thanks very much for your help Mike. I might have to try the hanging upside down because I always sleep on my side.
 
I’ll ring the Spanish Inquisition team to get you the right equipment for that:D
 
Ha ha thank you 🙂
 
Could the pain be from Peripheral Vascular/Arterial Disease- PAD? That causes pain /cramps in the thighs, leg and calf muscles but usually when walking and exerting yourself. Just a thought as no surprise it is common in diabetes .
 
Thank you Flower but hopefully not PAD because the pain isn’t affected by exertion.
 
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